Latch for sliding doors



.(NoMoael.)

W. H. THGMAS.

`LATCH POR SLIDING D0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. THOMAS, ou JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

- LATCH FOR SLIDING DOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,493, dated April30,` 1889. Application filed January 2, 1889I Serial No. 295,2l9. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jenkintown, in the county of Montgomery and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLatches for Sliding Doors; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to latches for use in doors sliding withinpartitions, and has for its object the provision of a simple, cheap, andefcient device for securing such doors when closed, and permitting ofthe ready unlatching of the same without the aid of akey or theprovision of the u sual tumbler-lock.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofparts, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents myimprovements in use on a pair of inside doors and operated by anordinary thumb-latch. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of said doorswith my improvements thereon. Fig. 3 represents my improvements appliedas in Fig. l, but operated by a handle or knob. Fig. is averticaltransverse section through the center of the handle in Fig. 3.

A represents the latch-arm, formed with the rounded head a, which headis twice as wide as arm A, so as to form a projection or hook, a', belowthe lower edge of saidv arm for engagement with the plate b in the edgeof door B, there being the usual socket, b', provided in door B, toallow of freedom of movement of latch-head a. Plate h is secured to doorB by screws b2 in the usual manner.

Latch-arm A is journaled or hinged on screw C, which screw passesthrough the door D and is securely embedded therein, this form of hingefor the latch-bar doing away with the usual boss formed on one of theplates of a lock-casing, as has heretofore been provided,"

and allowing of the ready withdrawal and insertion of said latch-barwithout disturbing any of the other parts, the door itself forming thewalls for the latch in place of the ordinary mortise-lock. Door D isprovided with a plate, d, similar to plate b, secured in the edge m ofsaiddoor by screws d cl2.

E is the spring, which exerts a downward pressure on the latch-bar A andactuates the same. This spring is secured at its upper end between theedge of door D and the inside of plate d, and is secured againstdislodgement from its position by screw d', passing through a hole issaid spring, thus doing away with the series of alternating lugs on thelock-casing,'between which lugs the sprin g is usually held infrictional contact.

In Figs. l and 2 l have shown the latch-arm A in position for operationby the ordinary thumb-latch, F, f being the handle of the same. Thismeans of operation can be employed Vwhere it is not essential that thedoor slide back iiush with the edge of the partition.

ln cases where it is desired to have the doors slide all the way intothe recess in the partition l provide the construction shown in Figs. 3and 4, in which G are the handles, secured on square shaft g in theusual manner, Said handles rotating in circular depressions g', formedin plates g2, in which plate Shaft g has its bearings. Secured to shaftg by a screw, g3, is a small plate, g4, forming a cam, screw g3 passingthrough hole g5 in shaft g and into the cam-plate g4. Shaft vg has otherholes, 96 g7, similar to c5, so as to permit of the adjustment of theposition of the cam-plate g4 to different thicknesses of doors. VAsshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, when shaft g is turned by handlesG, the latch-bar A will be raised in the recess H by cam-plate g4, afterwhich thedoor can be slid or rolled back flush with the edge of thepartition, as above suggested. To draw the doors out of the position inthe partition, there will be provided the ordinary doorpulls. Obviously,if camplate g4 be turned in a direction the reverse of that shown inFig. 3, the result will be the same. Therefore it matters not on whichdoor the latch is placed, or even if it be placed upside down.

As will be readily understood, my improvement relates solely to asimple, cheap, and effective latch, and is in no wise a lock for slidingdoors.

I am aware that spring-actuated lockingbars have been heretoforeemployed in mor- IOO tise-looks, said bare being operated by a. key andsaid spring end bar being supported 011 and between the easing-s of saidlzlioitse-ioeks.V I therefore do not wish to be understood as claimingsuch lock.

Y'Vhat I do claim es new, and desire to se- Cure by Letters Patent, is*

1. The combination, with the thumblatch F, of latch-arm A, having' itsbearing on Screw C, said .erm being actuated by sprngE,whi eh SpringisSecured in platee between plate @and the edge of door D by screw d.passing through said plate and spring and into said door, as and for thepurpose set forth.

WILLIAM H. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. HEGER, R. DALE SPARHAWK.

